Automatic train-pipe connector.



JOSlIfH V. ROBINSON. F BBANFOBD, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTOR.

. Specication of Letters Patent. p

Patented Nov. 6,1917.

Application llled June 10, 1912, Serial No. 702,818. Renewed May 18, 191i'. Serial No. 139,578.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH V. RoisiNsoN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Branford, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train- Pipe Connectors, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to automatic'4 train pipe connectors for railway cars and has amongV its objects to provide an improved bracket or base for suspending the connector from the car,'that will be simple, strong and eicient; to provide an improved means forlpositively locking the supporting spring 01EI the connector to the connector head and base, and to provide an improved fluid conduit Afor directing a fluid to the head of an automatic connector and for preventing localization of strains in said supporting spring. r -v With these objects in view, my invention consists in the combinations,- arrangements and constructions hereinafter described,

ointed out in the appended claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

' in which:

re l is a side view of my invention Figu some in elevation.

Fig. 2 is an interior side view of a mem-` ber of the base. v

Fig. 3'is a front 'face view, partly in section, of the base or bracket of my improved connector, and

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the head'of my roved connector.

eferringto the drawings, A indicates a connector head of the freight type provided with a port 2 communicating with a threaded pipe or stem 3 mounted in said head and ada ted to be connected Toy a iexible hose the usual train pipe. The port 2; is provided with a recessed. seat for receiving a gasket 4 which projectsfrom the coupling face of said head. As shown in Fig. 1 the forward end of said pipe is flared or curved at 5 for subjecting the rear face of the gasket 4 to the direct act-ion of the train pipe ressure, whereby the gaskets of coupled lieads will have a iston action and be maintained in extended) position by the train pipe pressure when the latter is cut-in to coupled connection AA split bracket or base B is secured to a lug 9 of thecar in any suitable manner, and

comprises independent halves or 4members 1.0, each provided with an interior semi-circulnferential seat or recess 11 for receiving the base of a conical spiral spring C having coils of progressively decreasing thicknesses of material. One of said base portions is provided with a slot 12y cut in an annularly shaped seat 13 of the base for receiving the offset end 14 of said spring, to positively anchor the latter agaiiistturning in said recess 11 and on said seat. The halves of the base are secured together and rigidly clamped about the base of the spring and to the lug 9 by bolts 15.

The apex end of the spring C is seated against an annular bearing face 16 at the rear face of the connector head A and beneath diametrically disposed portions or lugs 1T and-18 and is expanded bya'tapered shoulder or device -19 on the pipe or stem 3 to rigidly clamp said apex coils in position relative to the head and stem; the portions 17 and 18 being suitably spaced relative to the rear face of the coupler head and being provided on their inner face with a transverse recess or groove for receiving said apex end of the spring to prevent axial shifting of the head independent of movement of thc spring.

The pipe 0r stein 3 extends freely through a lateral opening 22 in the base B and is provided with axially extending ribs 23 for slidably engaging a pair of .diametrically opposite recesses 2a of a series of recesses extending from the base opening 22; the pipe 8 being provided with a collar 25 adapted to engage the base B for preventing undue extension of the connector head forwardly of said base. Injurious localization of strains in the spring C are prevented by mounting the apex end thereofv upon the shoulder 19 of the pipe 3 and securin it between said shoulder Aand the head.V 'he end coils' of the spring being thus held by tie base and head, respectively, the strains produced when rounding curves, &c., is distributed throughout the entire series of intermediate, free, coils each of which is permitted to yield its proportionate amount before en aging the pipe. 2

Suita le guiding prongs 26 are provided for alining my improved connector in coupling under all conditions of disalinement. I have. shown the prongs diagonally spaced upon the face of the coupling head A, and

eoV

iin4

extending forwardl:7 and outwardly there- -head and having of, but any other satisfactory form of guiding prongs and coupling with my improved support.

the combination of a. coupling head -provided with rearward extensions, having their inner faces recessed or grooved, a base, and a spring` arranged between said head and base and having one end mounted in said recess or groove whereby said head is locked against arial shifting independent of movement of said spring.

In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a connector head, projections at the rear of said head provided on their inner faces with a recess, a yieldable support for the head seated .in said recess, and a device extending axiaily of said head and projections and cooperating with the.

latter to maiv ain said head and yieldable support in their correct relative position.

3. In an' automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a connector head 'provided on its rear face with an integral )rojection having a recess on its inner ace, yieldable means mounted in said recess and extending therefrom for supporting said head, and a device for maintaining said yieldable meansin position in said recess.

4. In an automatic ,train pipe connector, rthe combination of a connector head pro vided with a portion having an inner face and a recess leading from said face, a spring for extendingthe head, said spring having a coil mounted in said'recess, and a device for locking said spring coil in position in the recess.

5. In .an automatic train pipe connector7 the combination. of a perforated connector head having on its rear face a projection, said projection being provided vith-a trans verse recess, a spring for supporting said one end mounted in said recess, and a tubular member extending axially of the spring and into said perforation and being connected with said head for maintaining said' spring in the recess.

6. In 'au automatic train pipeconnector, the combination of a connector head having on its rear face diametricalhT disposed projections each of which-is provided on its in` .ner face with a transverse recess, and a spring for supporting the head', oneend of the spring being 'seated between said projections and4 having one of its coils locked in said recesses.

7 In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a perforated'connector 'head having projections provided on their inner faces with a transverse recess. a spring one coil of which is and a stem extemling axially through the head may be used seated insaid recess,.

spring, said stem being connectedl with said head and provided with a tapered shoulder for expanding said cess.

8. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination i' a connector head, means yiel'dably suspending the lic-ad, a base for maintaining said yield-able means in the service position, said base comprising membershaving on their inner faces a recess, and means for securing sai-d members together with a portion of said'yieldable suspending means seated in said recess.

E). In an automatic'traii'i pipe connector, the combination of a base for supporting a connector head and a spring from a car, saidr base comprising members having a circumferential recess, a connector head, a spring mounted in said recess and acting to extend said head, and means for clamping to gether said members to hold the spring in said seat.

10. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a connector head, a yieldable support therefor, a base comprising halves each vhaving on its inner face-'a semicircumferential recess, and means for clainp ing together said halves with said'support spring coil-into said reseatc in said recesses'.

means for clamping together said members ivith said spring mounted in said recess and seated upon said annular-ly shaped seat.

12. In anv automatic train pipe connector, the .combination of a connector head, a spring support therefor, a base provided on its inner face with a vrecess in which said spring is stop, and forengaging. said stop to anchor the spring against shifting in said recess.

13. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of, a connector head, a spring for supporting the head, a base com'- prising members each vhaving on its inner face a recess for receiving said spring, and

a common means for securing together the members of said base and for attaching the latter to a lug on a car.

14. In an automatic train pipe connector,`

the combination of a connector head, a spring for extending the head, and a common meansfor securing .said spring to said head and for preventing excessive localization of strains in' said spring.

15. In an automatic train pipe connector, the combination of a connector head, a conicalt'spiral springcoiled 'of a tapered bar upon the fo'rivard end of which spring said headis mounted for universal movement, a twomounted, said. base having also a` an anchoring offset on said springpart ybase each member of which is provided with anlnterior circumferential recess and provided also with a lateral opening, means extending through said opening for directing a. fluid to said head, and means for securing the parts of said base together with said s ring lockedl in said recess,

16. n an automatic train pipe connector,

the combination of a connector head5 a base having a, circumferential recess, and a s ring seated 111 said recess for supporting t 1e head, said spring being coiled of a gradujv ally tapering bar.

17. In an automatic train pipe connector,

the combination of a base for'supporting a connector head and a spring from a car, said base having an interior recess, a 'connector head, a spring mounted in said recess and acting to extend said head, and ymeans for securing the spring 1n said ref cess.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand 111 the presence of two Witnessesn JOSEPH V. ROBINSON. Wfitnesses :4

CLINTON M. SMITH, W. E. ROSE. 

